Day 14

Good Morning,

My morning devotion was titled "Agendas." In Isiah 55:8-9 we are familiar with these words, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are Your ways higher than mine and Your thoughts than mine. This being the day, just two weeks ago, when Doctor Bond came into our hospital room to tell us that Sam had ALL. Right then and there our agendas, plans and dreams for our near future came to a screaming halt. Sam was really enjoying his city volleyball team, looking forward to his social studies unit on the Gold Rush, going to Barkerville with his class, playing badminton and volleyball in our back yard, hanging out with his friends on the street as the weather warmed up, and anticipating a fun summer at the lake at his Uncle Mike and Auntie Darlenes cabin on Kal Lake with cousin Josh and our family. There were so many emotions attatched to our sad news and shock was definitely our first response.

Ger and I quickly knew that our lives had just taken a major detour and our trip was now taking a different route than what we had originally planned on. Fortunately for our family, we are in the wonderfully capable hands of Children's Hospital Oncology Department that has the way for us to get to Sam's new destination...healing! God's faithfulness, sovereignty, and power have been displayed in our homes and lives for generations. We immediately knew that these circumstances were known by God and that He had a plan ready for us, that our cancer support group would include all of you. Grace Fox's words today were so very encouraging. "When our agenda fizzles despite our best efforts, we can choose to throw a pity party (believe me, it's lonely), or we can choose to thank the Lord for controlling our circumstances and making no mistakes. Releasing our plans and embracing His allows us to walk in freedom and confidence. Even when we don't understand why things happen as they do, we can rest in the knowledge that He loves us more than words can say, and He has our best in mind." God asks all of us when changes occur in our lives, "Will you trust Me despite the change in plans? Will you give thanks even though your agenda fizzled?" Each day for the last 15 days we have much to be grateful for. We end each day thanking God for the good things that have happened and the people he has allowed us to interact with. Thank you for your talks with God on behalf of our family, your compassion, and support. We experience in significant ways each day!

Sam whispered my name at 6:30 this morning with his food agenda. It's time for breakfast mom, and I know what I want. Can I have grilled cheese sandwiches? Who can refuse! These last few days Sam has put on some weight which delights me. He was looking much altered prior to this, sunken face and large eyes. He's anxious about Friday's now, his chemo day, and the reactions that can can occur for the next 5 days after. Today he is looking so much better, more energy, and color in his cheeks. Just when he regains some strength, his body will be bombarded with healing poison! He told me he always used to look forward to Friday's, the weekend!, but not now. Ger and Katelyn will arrive tomorrow morning, on Friday, and we are counting down the hours until they get here. They will come with us to chemo land and be here with us for the weekend. In the anticipation of a dark day, we are given the gift of flights, that allow our family members to come and be with us here! Okay, okay, that last sentence brings tears of gratitude and its hard for me to see the screen.

I'll add more later...